A quick thank you to everyone who has made it this far and I hope you enjoy the story!
Naris was bewildered as he looked up at the clear sky, a rare view on many worlds across the galaxy. It took only a second to take in the sounds of a busy street and voices of concern oddly enough. He shifted himself up just enough to see a scarred human looking at him with some concern
"Are you okay uh, Sir?" He asked in a confused voice. As if he was not sure how to address the Marine.
"Would you care to tell me where I am?" Naris asked as he began to fully rise to his feet and took in the crowd staring at him.
"You are in the Kingdom of Lugnica… are you a Knight by chance, can't say I have seen many giants become one." He said while still eyeing the hulking armor.
"I am no Knight, simply a member of the Adeptus Astartes." Naris replied with no small amount of mirth. This mirth quickly turned to confusion when no one seemed to recognize the term. This must be the most backwater feudal world he has been on in a while.
Having dismissed the man he turned to checking himself over. His weaponry is all gone with his armor pierced on his left arm, not to mention the dents in various locations. While his arm would heal quickly enough Narris despised the temporary weakness. He noted with some annoyance it would be very difficult to get Astartes pattern gear on a world such as this so he would have to maintain it well.
Narris glanced around now that he was finally ready to be on the move again when he noticed one figure that stood out from the rest, an Eldar? He watched with narrowed eyes as she walked by seemingly searching for something while he hurried out of her line of sight. If this was an exodite world with humans living under the thumb of the Eldar he would have a long and tedious rebellion to begin.
Deciding the best way to gain some information on the world would be best. Naris began to navigate the alleys until he came across a gang of thugs who tried to rob him of all things.
"Someone should have told you going around with armor doesn't help if ya don't have a weapon idiot." One of the soon to be dead men threatened while taking out a knife.
The Legionary calmly gave a deep chuckle. "Really, is that so… well I don't suppose you care to enlighten me on a few things before I end you?"
Before the thugs even had a chance to respond he was already in motion. The marine easily snapped the wrist of the thug who held the knife before throwing him to the ground. He broke the leg of another with one well placed kick and let the last one run. He had a reputation to build after all and it did not involve hurting brats.
Seizing the man with the snapped wrist by his shirt, Naris raised him to his eye level. "Now I have a few questions, answer quickly and cleanly and that's how I will let you go. Decide not to and you may have another broken bone. Or if you take too long I suppose I have an extra." He said coldly as he gestured over to the thug who was slowly trying to crawl away before he was mentioned.
The next hour was a swift and brutal interrogation session where Naris managed to gain some basic knowledge of the world he was in. On one hand he was pleased it was not an exodite world as he feared but being a planet that as far as the scum of the slums were concerned had never heard of the Imperium or even space travel was of some worry. He hoped that those in higher positions perhaps just kept this knowledge from the public but the lack of an Imperial Cult did make that seem unlikely.
On another note with Psykers being accepted it was strange that no Chaos Cult ruled the planet as surely Deamons had to have infested the
mind of one of them at some point.
Just as he was about to leave the alley he felt someone actually step on his head. He reached up to grab whoever had dared do so and found nothing but air, he did catch a glimpse of the blonde girl on the roof above him as she ran off. With a small grunt of annoyance at a human
catching him off guard while in thought he made to leave the alleyway only to almost run into the Eldarlike Abhuman he had seen earlier.
"Excuse me, I was looking for a thief who I think came this way. Can you point me in the right direction?" She asked in a calm, almost naive sounding voice.
Weighing the options quickly Naris decided letting her go down the path that was filled with two very much dead and brutalized bodies would not bode well, add in that the thief was probably the one who stepped on him and he knew it would be worth it one way or another.
"She went this way on the rooftops. Was going rather quickly too if you want to catch her. Do you think you require aid for such a thing?" Naris asked as he tilted his head slightly to the side.
"O-of course I would not mind. My name is Emilia, may I ask what your name is?" She asked in a hesitant tone, as if she had not expected such an offer.
"You may call me Naris. Now what is this stolen object we are retrieving?" The Marine asked as he gave an internal chuckle at how trusting the Abhuman seemed, then again he supposed he was masquerading as an Abhuman as well but still it was odd.
"It is an Insignia that has a jewel in the center and is about this big." Emilia held up her hand to make a small circle only to realize such a thing must seem tiny to this giant Knight.
As they spoke the green gem the Abhuman wore began to glow and a small furred mammal appeared. "Hi and I'm Puck, the best great spirit around!"
Naris kept himself careful around the so-called 'spirit'. It seemed to simply be a Deamon by a different name and the witch was a fool to treat with one. Sadly pulling himself out of this operation would be most difficult so he remained.
As the two began their search with Naris leading the way Emilia couldn't help but bombard him with questions. "Who is it you are sworn to sir Knight? You don't seem like you are in the uniform of one of the local orders, are you from a different country? Why is your armor so damaged, it looks so detailed it is hard to imagine fighting in."
Naris took the barrage in stride, already having some ideas. "I was a Knight of a sort. I served in the Vollachia Empire for sometime along with my brothers but when my tribe rebelled against the Empire I could not allow myself to slaughter my own. I was exiled for treason because of that day." He grew quiet for a moment, content to allow his words to sink in and make it appear he was still having the event on his mind. "My armor has not been repaired since that day, it is still hardy and durable though. But I suppose the day to have it repaired is approaching."
Emilia mulled over his words for a while, outside of observations and directions the two grew quieter as they journeyed on. It was not too long until they managed to make it to the slums where they followed the bloodhound for information that was the Alpha Legionnaire until they reached an old beaten down house.
Naris could already hear the sound of fighting so he kicked down the door just in time to witness what seemed to be an actual giant smashing table after table trying to hit an assailant who danced above him. The assassin was skilled of that Naris had no doubt, but she seemed to exceed what should be possible for a baseline human to do. He immediately turned to Emilia "The other two can be dealt with later, can your sorcery hold the assassin in place?"
Puck gave a yawn as he stretched his limbs. "Just leave it to me big guy, better make this quick though I am tired."
The small Deamon truly earned its title as it fired off multiple Crystal barrages at the assassin who turned to regard them while licking the bit of blood off the dagger.
"Oh so more prey has arrived, and not even introducing yourselves is such poor manners. My name is Elsa Granhiert, the Bowel Hunter. I must admit I am curious to compare the insides of two giants, care to help me find out?" She asked before lunging forward towards Naris.
Reaching up with his right arm Naris slammed his fist into the right arm of the assassin who dropped her knife in shock as a crunch was heard before her body was sent flying through the air and crashing through the wooden walls of the shack.
The marine only eyed the dagger for a moment before dismissing the very idea he could hold the small thing comfortably, much less wield it. To everyone's shock Elsa walked back through the hole in the wall seemingly unharmed and with a second dagger in hand.
Before she could close in, the Bowel Hunter was forced to dodge another barrage from Puck. "You are pretty good for a girl." He said in a smug voice as their battle continued.
Naris eyed the two thieves before looking at the girl with yellow hair. "Girl, go fetch as many guards as you can. We are going to need them if this is any indication."
She flushed as she glared up into Narris's helmet. "Hey my name isn't girl! Call me by my name, Felt!" She yelled as she stomped on the floor.
Naris gave a soft chuckle. "Very well Felt, go and let the giants stick around for when things get even more dangerous."
The two giants turned to the fight once more as Felt ran off. "Thanks for that, I hate having her see me get hurt at times like this. Names Rom, what's yours?" The elderly giant asked.
"Call me Naris, and I think we are about to be up." He said calmly as Puck began to fade away.
"Puck, do you think you can keep going?" Emilia asked as some degree of worry entered her voice.
"Sorry, but I'm sleepy. I think I underestimated her, my manas gone so I'm done." Puck said with a yawn before he vanished entirely.
As soon as Puck fully vanished both Elsa charged forward and with a swift kick sent Emilia behind the bar as some rubble fell atop her. Narris and Rom charged forward at the assassin, Narris slowing himself down to be roughly the same speed as the other giant.
"Oh how rude, don't cut in on someone else's dance." Elsa said while having her wide smile.
"If you want to dance I'll show you the best dancing you've ever seen!" Rom roared as he swung his club at the assassin again and again.
Naris managed to in the flurry of blows slip behind the Bowel Hunter and he promptly grabbed her wrist and snapped in but a moment before Elsa turned around and sliced into his still exposed armor and jumped back. The marines eyes narrowed as he failed to see any wound being inflicted as she seemed unaffected already.
"She heals very quickly, we are going to have to try and pin her down somehow." Narris said with a grave tone in his voice. He already disliked how much this woman reminded him of fighting Eldar and now she seemed as resilient as an Ork.
Rom turned to him to give a nod only to have the marine shove him back just in time to have the dagger miss his neck but still pierce him, bringing the giant to his knees.
"And then there was one, such a shame you seem like you would be more fun if you weren't seemingly such a wreck of a Knight." Elsa taunted as she twirled her dagger before she quickly backpedaled away from Emilia renewed magical attacks.
Naris made his way over to Rom. "Don't die on us yet Rom, also I am borrowing this." He said while picking up the giants club. Such a weapon was unwieldy but it was one of the few that was properly sized for him.
Elsa had closed into melee with Emilia and was wailing blow after blow on her magical barrier before seemingly Naris appeared and slammed the club into her, sending her flying through the walls of the house once again.
As the assassin once again stood up and made her way towards the duo again the door burst open, allowing a man clad in white with red hair to calmly walk in.
"Looks like I made it in time. Now, what do you say, shall we put an end to this?" The newcomer intoned.
"Be wary Sir Knight, that woman is stronger than she appears, she has recovered from every injury nigh instantly." Naris spoke up as he guided Emilia away from the coming battle zone and she began to heal Rom from his previous injuries.
"Do not fear, I swear that I, Reinhardt van Astrea will not allow her to do any more harm on this day. I would request your surrender, Bowel Hunter." He said in the same even tone he spoke with before.
"Come now can you really expect a starving predator to resist the temptation of such delectable prey?" Elsa asked before their fierce battle began.
Naris eyed the two critically, though they may have the forms of humans neither of them truly were worthy of that title any longer. Now they were just mighty beasts of tremendous power, it in a way reminded him of comparing Astartes to regular humans.
The Marines thoughts were interrupted by Reinhardts mighty final attack and while impressive he could not see the Assassins body, he never would believe something like that died until he had one so he kept his guard up.
"Reinhardt was it? You have my gratitude for your work here, I doubt any of us would have lasted for much longer." Naris said as he regarded the man. He seemed to maintain his calm despite the intense battle he was in not moments before, no signs of fatigue either unlike Emilia either, he had the marines respect as a warrior if nothing else.
"It was nothing, I found this young lady running through the streets quite frightened and desperate so I offered my help." He said while gesturing to Felt who had hung back behind the destroyed door frame.
As Naris was in the midst of offering a nod Elsa burst through the rubble nearby and made a beeline towards Emilia. It barely took the marine seconds to realize Reinhardt was too far away to protect her and so he lifted the club and made to intercept her. He placed himself in front of the Abhuman and with a well placed swing knocked the Bowel Hunter into the darkness of the night.
Emilia rushed over to Naris with a flash of concern in her eyes. "Are you okay?" She asked in a worried tone while looking at the bleeding wound on his left arm.
"It will heal quickly enough." The marine replied calmly but before he could object she was already healing his arm. The 'magic' felt very different to the limited warp based phenomenon he had experienced but he did not resist after having seen it work on Rom.
She stared up at his helmet with an almost annoyed look on her face. "You need to take better care of yourself. You were so reckless and if you keep it up your armor won't last to save you forever." She said with another drop of concern hiding within her criticism.
"You may be right but even if I am no longer a Knight protecting others no matter the cost will always be my purpose." He intoned calmly.
Reinhardt eyed the Marine for just a moment at his words, as if they confused him.
"Thank you for helping me though, if you want a reward if it's in my power I will grant it." Emilia said after being somewhat calmed by Narris's words.
"For the moment I would ask you to allow me to mull that over? I can't say I was expecting such an offer." Narris replied while placing a hand under his chin.
"If you don't mind me asking another favor of you… could you take off your helmet so I can see who I owe this favor to?" Emilia asked hesitantly.
With a small snort the marine nodded. "If you wish, sometimes my armor feels like a second skin, I do sometimes need reminding there is something under it." He said as he reached for his helmet seals and a small hiss was emitted before he pulled it free.
Sorry for the tease towards the end but I am still bouncing a few different ideas on what Narris looks like so I decided to put it off for next chapter. Hope you all enjoyed the story so far!